The agency announced that a 12-hour maximum enforcement period, or MEP, is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Friday, during which all available officers will deploy onto freeways, highways and unincorporated roads throughout Riverside County to nab DUI suspects and other lawbreakers.

Personnel from the Beaumont, Blythe, Indio, Riverside and Temecula CHP stations are slated to take part in the enforcement campaign.

“Impaired driving destroys lives, and even one life lost is one too many,” CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee said. “This Halloween, we’re asking everyone to do their part before the festivities begin, arrange a sober ride and help us keep California’s roads safe for everyone who uses them.”

During the agency’s 2024 Halloween MEP, there were about 500 crashes in the CHP’s jurisdictions statewide, with nearly 100 of those caused by drunk or drugged motorists. Two people were killed and 60 others injured. A total of 120 drivers were arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, according to figures.

“Whether it’s Halloween, or any night of the year, the decision to drive sober can save a life,” Duryee said. “Together, we can make our roads safer and prevent tragedies before they happen.”

Municipal law enforcement agencies across the county, along with the sheriff’s department, will conduct their own sobriety patrols, as well as enforce all road rules with the goal of keeping trick-or-treaters and the public at large safe.

Parents and guardians who plan to walk with their kids were asked to wear bright clothes and place reflective tape on their youngsters’ bags and buckets to make them more visible to drivers, as well as provide them with flashlights.

Authorities also emphasized the need for people on foot to stick to sidewalks and designated crosswalks whenever possible, preferably walking within well-illuminated corridors and always observing the actions of motorists to ensure there are no conflicts that could result in injuries.

The post CHP Announces Halloween Crackdown In Riverside County appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

According to Sgt. Patrick Lynch’s statement, the checkpoint was set up on San Jacinto Boulevard, north of Midway Street, in a location known for spotting DUI drivers. It ran from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., Saturday morning, he said.

“DUI checkpoint locations are determined based on reported incidents of impaired driving-related crashes,” he said. “The primary purpose of DUI checkpoints is to promote public safety by taking suspected impaired drivers off the roads.”

At the checkpoint, officers achieved the following results:
1070 vehicles screened
7 Field Sobriety Tests conducted
3 people arrested for DUI
21 citations issued for driving without a driver license
4 citations for vehicle code violations
3 felony arrests for outstanding warrants
1 misdemeanor arrest for outstanding warrant
7 vehicles were stored or impounded.

“Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk,” Sgt. Lynch said. “Any prevention measures that reduce the number of impaired drivers on our roads significantly improve traffic safety.”

The San Jacinto Sheriff Station reminds the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Some prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving. While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal.

Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The post Multiple Arrests, Vehicles Impounded At RivCo DUI/License Checkpoint appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.